Page 47 of A Different Impression

“I should like you to examine Lady Catherine as well. She remains confined to one of the bedchambers and is loudly demanding her release. Determine whether she requires a calming draught, but do not mention our suspicions to her.”

The physician agreed and departed. Lord Matlock remained standing behind his desk, his gaze fixed upon the unlabelled bottle.

He would summon Sir Lewis’s solicitor at once. If Catherine had concealed Anne’s ownership of Rosings—or deliberately kept her daughter weak to retain control of it—Lord Matlock intended to uncover the truth.

CHAPTER 20

The End of Forbearance

Early on the morning after seeing Wickham in Meryton, Darcy rode directly to Longbourn rather than waiting for Elizabeth at Oakham Mount. He wished to see her, naturally, but he also needed to inform the Bennets that his cousin was expected to arrive.

He was shown into Mr Bennet’s study, where he requested permission for the Bennet family to spend the day at Netherfield while plans were made for dealing with Wickham. The ladies, other than Elizabeth, could assist Miss Henrietta Bingley with preparations for the ball. Mr Bennet accepted the invitation, including himself in the party, and agreed that the family would arrive later that morning.

Darcy had already told Elizabeth something of Miss Bingley, whom she had yet to meet. Henrietta possessed some of her niece’s outspokenness, but none of Caroline’s pretensions or unkindness. He had always liked Bingley’s aunt and hoped that Elizabeth would as well.

When the two ladies were introduced later that morning, Darcy was pleased to see them quickly find common ground despite their disparate interests. Miss Bingley had little use for books or long walks, but Elizabeth appeared to appreciate her openness, directness, and broad knowledge of the world. Henrietta had remained unmarried by choice rather than from any lack of opportunity, and she entertained Elizabeth with accounts of her travels throughout England and Ireland and even the Continent.

After some time, Elizabeth excused herself to join the gentlemen with evident reluctance, although Darcy suspected that even Miss Bingley’s stories could not distract her for long from the danger posed by Wickham.

Richard arrived after the Bennets had been at Netherfield for nearly an hour and was introduced to Mr Bennet, Jane, and Mary. Once the greetings had been exchanged, he turned to Darcy, his expression grim.

“Darcy, we have matters to discuss. Is there a room we might use, Bingley?”

Darcy answered, “I have already asked Bingley about using the library for our conversation. Mr Bennet, Elizabeth, will you join us for this discussion?”

Both Richard and Mr Bennet raised their eyebrows at Elizabeth’s inclusion, but Darcy had no intention of excluding her. “Elizabeth is aware of all the particulars. You will merely have to temper your words, Cousin.”

Richard responded with a shrug. Darcy offered Elizabeth his hand and escorted her to the library behind the others.

As soon as they were in the library, Richard offered his suggestion. “If you had let me run him through this summer, we would have no need for this conversation, Darcy. I always said you were too soft on Wickham. Your loyalty towards him has been misplaced, and regardless of how much your father loved him, you have protected him far more than he deserved. You have paid out hundreds of pounds to cover his debts, and although you say it was to protect your father’s memory, it has just made him believe he will get away with anything.”

“He left town this summer before anything could be done, Richard, as you should remember, but I still believe your solution is questionable at best,” Darcy replied. “I have done little for him since he refused the living at Kympton, other than pay the debts in Ramsgate that he ran up in my name. I have refused every other request he has made.”

“I agree with William, Colonel,” Elizabeth interjected. “Granted, I am not an officer, but I would say few problems are truly resolved by ‘running someone through’ with a sword.”

Richard’s scowl suggested that he remained unconvinced. “It could be a training ‘accident’,” he proposed. “As an officer in the militia, he is obligated to follow any order given by a superior officer or face punishment for insubordination. I am certain I could find a way to make his death appear as an accident.”

“Richard!” Darcy barked at the same time as Elizabeth gasped, “Colonel!”

Darcy allowed Elizabeth to speak first. “I cannot imagine that killing the man is an option whatsoever. What you are suggesting is nothing less than murder. Can we not try to find a workable solution that does not risk you losing your life or standing trial for murder?”

Richard grumbled but abandoned the suggestion. Darcy then shared how Wickham had amassed significant debts in both Lambton and Ramsgate, for which Darcy had paid. Richard had brought with him the receipts held in Darcy’s study in London. The amount owed was sufficient to have him confined indefinitely, for Wickham possessed no means of satisfying the debts. Before the events in the summer at Ramsgate, Darcy had been reluctant to take that step, although that had been his intention before Wickham disappeared from the seaside town.

Now that Wickham was in the militia, they might have a lawful means of removing him from the neighbourhood. Richard explained that the extent of Wickham’s debts—and particularly his habit of contracting them in Darcy’s name—would call his fitness as an officer into question. If they presented the receipts to Colonel Forster, the colonel could demand Wickham’s resignation rather than permit him to disgrace the regiment. Darcy could then have the civil writ executed and Wickham taken into custody for his debts.

Mr Bennet nodded slowly. “My principal concern is protecting my daughters. Whether Wickham is imprisoned or sent abroad matters less to me than ensuring that he cannot prey upon another young woman in Hertfordshire.”

“There may be another option that would accomplish both,” Richard said. “Forster cannot simply order Wickham into the Regulars; the transfer must be voluntary. However, I know a regiment presently seeking recruits for service in Portugal. Its colonel will accept Wickham as a private soldier if he resigns his militia commission and signs the attestation.”

Darcy considered the proposal. It would remove Wickham from England while placing him under far stricter discipline than he had ever known. “Once he has signed, I will agree not to execute the writ for his arrest, provided he remains faithfully under the colours until lawfully discharged.”

Richard’s mouth curved into a grim smile. “Precisely. He may exchange his commission for a private soldier’s uniform—or for a cell in a debtors’ prison.”

“He will never accept it,” Darcy said.

Richard shrugged. “Then his refusal will be entirely of his own choosing.”

Mr Bennet studied the two men. “You seem determined to give him every possible opportunity.”